Hybrid Tomato Variety H1418

ABSTRACT

Hybrid tomato variety ‘H1418’ is described. The ‘H1418’ tomato variety is a ground-culture hybrid tomato variety suitable for machine harvest.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/227,906, filed Aug. 3, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/201,499, filed Aug. 5, 2015, both ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD

This invention relates to the field of plant breeding. In particular,this invention relates to a new tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, varietydenominated ‘H1418’.

BACKGROUND

Breeding improved tomato varieties involves providing genetics that givean advantage to the grower, processor, consumer, or other member of thesupply chain. The improvement may be in the form of field performance,disease resistance, factory performance, or a fruit qualitycharacteristic. For a tomato variety to be suitable to be grown forprocessing, the variety must have a concentrated fruit setting andmaturity, firm fruit, and sufficient rot tolerance to allow early fruitto remain rot-free while later fruit continues to develop and ripen.

Most commercial processing tomato varieties are hybrids resulting from across pollination of two true-breeding, inbred parents. Through the useof true-breeding lines, a hybrid is produced that often displayscharacteristics of each parent, and often demonstrates characteristicsthat are superior to either parent alone, or that allow a hybrid to maskinadequacies of the individual parents.

Processing tomato varieties combining high levels of tolerance tobacterial canker (Clavibacter michiganense ssp. michiganense), earlyblight (Alternaria solani), and bacterial spot (Xanthomonas spp.) arehighly desirable in humid climates where these diseases presentproduction issues.

Moreover, tomato varieties adapted to arid climates, combiningresistance to tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) and race 3 of Fusariumoxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, are desirable to the processing industryin California and other global tomato processing regions where thesedisease limit production. Additionally, tomato varieties adapted to aridclimates that combine resistance to TSWV with high levels of solublesolids (° Brix), thin viscosity, and strong yields are also highlydesirable for the California processing industry.

Further, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici race 3 (Fusarium 3) is agrowing problem in the California tomato growing region and in otherproduction areas worldwide, such as the Dominican Republic and Mexico.Productive, adapted varieties have been in demand by growers andprocessors since the mid 1990's with resistance to this pathogen. Thedisease has become a major limiting factor in tomato production in someCalifornia fields. Growers and processors need a range of tomatovarieties with Fusarium 3 resistance, since products specifications varyin regards to juice viscosity, soluble solids content, field storage,and general field adaptability.

An additional important contribution that tomatoes provide to the humandiet is the antioxidant lycopene. Specifically, processing tomatovarieties are the key form of tomato intake in the US diet. Higherlevels of lycopene are beneficial both from a nutritional standpoint andfrom a consumer perception and quality standpoint. Tomato varietieshaving higher levels of lycopene result in products with a deeper redcolor that can be considered an indicator of higher product quality.Thus, a tomato variety with higher levels of lycopene can be valuablefrom both a nutritional standpoint and a quality standpoint. However, tobe commercially viable and useful, the tomato variety must performacceptably as required by any other processing tomato variety. Previousvarieties with increased lycopene levels have shown severe reductions infruit quality, firmness, yield, and a sensitivity to fruit rots.

SUMMARY

In order to meet these needs, the present invention provides improvedtomato variety ‘H1418’.

In particular, the present invention provides improved tomato variety‘H1418’, which has resistance to early blight, bacterial spot, andbacterial canker diseases of tomato coupled with superior rot resistanceand comparative field yield to industry standard varieties such as‘H3402’ and ‘H9706’. The ‘H1418’ variety has resistance to verticilliumrace 1, Fusarium races 1 and 2, southern root knot nematode, bacterialspeck race 0, bacterial canker, bacterial spot, and early blight. Thefruit of ‘H1418’ are medium size, have good color and an average fruitweight of 74 grams. Tolerance to fruit rot in ‘H1418’ is excellent,allowing for once-over machine harvesting applications requiringextended field holding.

The characteristics that determine the quality of tomato fruit used forprocessing are different from that of tomato fruit used for the freshmarket. Processing characteristics are commonly tested on samples oftomato pulp or juice produced in a way that is well known in the art.For example, a fixed mass of tomatoes may be cooked in a microwave ovenfor several minutes to halt any enzymatic breakdown of the sample, lostwater is replaced, and the sample is pulped to remove skin and seeds toproduce a uniform juice sample. The juice sample can be analyzed forvarious quality parameters important to processing tomato including, butnot limited to, gross viscosity measurements such as juice Bostwick,soluble solids measurements using a refractometer (° Brix), measurementsof acidity and pH, and measurements of color via a Hunter a/b score. TheHunter a/b score is an international industry and USDA standard colormeasurement of tomato products that provides a representation of thecolor of the product in a single dimensionless unit. The “a” valuerepresents color on the green to red dimension whereas “b” representsthe blue to yellow dimension; a higher a/b ratio is associated with morered color and is often considered a superior product.

Tomato varieties contain varying levels of lycopene (Garcia and Barrett,2006). Lycopene content of tomato juice can be measured using a protocoldeveloped by Anthon and Barrett (2001), which involves an ethanol/hexaneextraction followed by quantification using reflectance at 503 nm.

As used herein, tomato variety ‘H1418’, tomato plant ‘H1418’, tomatoseed ‘H1418’, and ‘H1418’ all refer to the hybrid tomato variety‘H1418’, and parts and seeds thereof, having ATCC Accession NumberPTA-124121.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the present invention is directed totomato seed designated as ‘H1418’ having ATCC Accession NumberPTA-124121. In another embodiment, the present invention is directed toa tomato plant and parts isolated therefrom produced by growing ‘H1418’tomato seed. In yet another embodiment, the present invention isdirected to a tomato plant and parts isolated therefrom having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of a tomato plantproduced by growing ‘H1418’ tomato seed having ATCC Accession NumberPTA-124121. In still another embodiment, the present invention isdirected to an Fi hybrid tomato seed, plants grown from the seed, andleaves, ovules, pollen, fruit, cotyledons, embryos, meristems, anthers,roots, root tips, pistils, flowers, stems, calli, stalks, hypocotyls,and pericarps isolated therefrom having ‘H1418’ as a parent, wherein‘H1418’ is grown from ‘H1418’ tomato seed having ATCC Accession NumberPTA-124121.

Tomato plant parts include leaves, ovules, pollen, fruit, cotyledons,embryos, meristems, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers, stems,calli, stalks, hypocotyls, pericarps, and the like. In anotherembodiment, the present invention is further directed to tomato fruit,stems, leaves, parts of leaves, roots, root tips, pollen, ovules, andflowers isolated from ‘H1418’ tomato plants. In another embodiment, thepresent invention is further directed to tissue culture or cells derivedfrom ‘H1418’ tomato plants.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention is further directed toa method of selecting tomato plants by a) growing ‘H1418’ tomato plantswherein the ‘H1418’ plants are grown from tomato seed having ATCCAccession Number PTA-124121; and b) selecting a plant from step a). Inanother embodiment, the present invention is further directed to tomatoplants, plant parts and seeds produced by the tomato plants, where thetomato plants are isolated by the selection method of the invention.

In another embodiment, the present invention is further directed to amethod of breeding tomato plants by crossing a tomato plant with a plantgrown from ‘H1418’ tomato seed having ATCC Accession Number PTA-124121.In still another embodiment, the present invention is further directedto tomato plants, tomato parts from the tomato plants, and seedsproduced therefrom where the tomato plant is isolated by the breedingmethod of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawings will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

The Figure illustrates fruit and general plant structure of tomatovariety ‘H1418’.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein is a new and distinct tomato variety named ‘H1418’ thatwas developed to provide a ground-culture hybrid tomato variety (i.e.,not grown on stakes) that is suitable for machine harvest, and isadaptable to the humid climactic conditions of regions such as Michigan,USA; Ohio, USA; Indiana, USA; Pennsylvania, USA; and southern Ontario,Canada.

Plants of the tomato variety ‘H1418’ are resistant to verticillium wiltrace 1, Fusarium races 1 and 2, root knot nematode, bacterial speck race0, early blight, bacterial spot, and bacterial canker. Additionally,plants of the tomato variety ‘H1418’ have a large sprawling vine sizecompared to other tomato varieties of the same market class and veryhigh yield potential. Fruit from the tomato variety ‘H1418’ is mediumsized and has good color compared to other tomato varieties of the samemarket class. Moreover, the tomato variety ‘H1418’ is adapted to culturein humid growing regions such as the eastern United States and southernOntario Canada.

Stability of the ‘H1418’ Tomato Variety

The variety is uniform and stable within commercially acceptable limits.As is true with other tomato varieties, a small percentage of variantscan occur within commercially acceptable limits for almost anycharacteristic during the course of repeated multiplication. However, novariants were observed during the two years in which the variety wasobserved to be uniform and stable.

Characterization of the ‘H1418’ Tomato Variety Seedling

-   Anthocyanin in hypocotyl of 2-15 cm seedling: Present-   Habit of 3-4 week old seedling: Normal

Mature Plant

-   Growth: Determinate-   Form: Normal-   Size of canopy: Large-   Habit: Semi-erect

Stem

-   Branching: Profuse (e.g., ‘UC 82’)-   Branching at cotyledonary or first leafy node: Present-   Number of nodes below first inflorescence: 7-10-   Number of nodes between early (1st-2nd, 2nd-3rd) inflorescences: 1-2-   Number of nodes between later developing inflorescences: 1-2-   Pubescence on younger: Sparsely hairy (scattered long hairs)

Leaf (Mature Leaf Beneath the 3rd Inflorescence)

-   Type: Tomato-   Morphology of mature leaf: Compound with major and some minor    leaflets-   Margins of major leaflets: Nearly entire-   Marginal rolling or wiltiness: Absent-   Surface of major leaflets: Rugose (bumpy or veiny)-   Pubescence: Smooth    Inflorescence (Observations from 3rd Inflorescence)-   Type: Simple-   Average number of flowers in inflorescence: 7-   Leafy or “running” inflorescences: Absent

Flower

-   Calyx: Normal, lobes awl-shaped-   Calyx-lobes: Shorter the corolla-   Corolla color: Yellow-   Style pubescence: Sparse-   Anthers: All fused into tube-   Fasciation (1st flower of 2nd or 3rd inflorescence): Absent

Fruit (3rd Fruit of 2nd or 3rd Cluster)

-   Typical fruit shape: Blocky, with hip-   Shape of transverse section: Round-   Shape of stem end: Flat-   Shape of blossom end: Indented (slight)-   Shape of pistil scar: Dot-   Abscission layer: Absent (jointless)-   Point of detachment of fruit at harvest: At calyx attachment-   Average length (in mm) of mature fruit (stem axis): 66.5 mm-   Average diameter (in mm) of fruit at widest point: 42.5 mm-   Average weight (in g) of mature fruit: 74 g-   Number of locules: Two-   Fruit surface: Slightly rough-   Fruit base color (mature-green stage): Apple or medium green-   Fruit pattern (mature-green stage): Uniform green-   Fruit color, full-ripe: Red-   Flesh color full-ripe: Red/Crimson-   Flesh color: With lighter and darker areas in walls-   Locular gel color of table-ripe fruit: Red-   Ripening: Uniform-   Stem scar size: Small (e.g., ‘Roma’)-   Core: Present-   Epidermis color: Yellow-   Epidermis: Normal-   Epidermis texture: Average-   Thickness of the pericarp: 5.6 mm

Disease and Pest Reaction

-   Disease and Pest Reaction: Resistant to verticillium wilt, race 1,    Fusarium races 1 and 2, root knot nematode, bacterial speck, race 0,    early blight, bacterial spot, and bacterial canker

Chemistry and Composition of Full-Ripe Fruits

TABLE 1 Variety Check Variety Check Variety ‘H1418’ ‘H9553’ ‘H3402’Soluble solids as °Brix 5.29 4.77 5.17 Juice Bostwick 11.7 12.4 12.2

-   Fruiting season: Medium (e.g., ‘Westover’)-   Relative maturity in areas tested: Medium

Adaptation

-   Culture: Field-   Principle use(s): Concentrated products-   Machine harvest: Adapted-   Regions to which adaptation has been demonstrated: Northeastern USA

Further Embodiments

Additional methods include, without limitation, chasing selfs. Chasingselfs involves identifying inbred plants among tomato plants that havebeen grown from hybrid tomato seed. Once the seed is planted, the inbredplants may be identified and selected due to their decreased vigorrelative to the hybrid plants that grow from the hybrid seed, or byenzymatic or DNA patterns. By locating the inbred plants, isolating themfrom the rest of the plants, and self-pollinating them (i.e., “chasingselfs”), a breeder can obtain an inbred line that is identical to aninbred parent used to produce the hybrid.

Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention relates to a methodfor producing an inbred tomato variety by: planting seed of the tomatovariety ‘H1418’; growing plants from the seed; identifying one or moreinbred tomato plants; controlling pollination in a manner whichpreserves homozygosity of the one or more inbred plants; and harvestingresultant seed from the one or more inbred plants. The step ofidentifying the one or more inbred tomato plants may further includeidentifying plants with decreased vigor, i.e., plants that appear lessrobust than plants of the tomato variety ‘H1418’. Tomato plants capableof expressing substantially all of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of the parental inbred lines of tomato variety ‘H1418’include tomato plants obtained by chasing selfs from seed of tomatovariety ‘H1418’.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that once a breeder hasobtained inbred tomato plants by chasing selfs from seed of tomatovariety ‘H1418’, the breeder can then produce new inbred plants such asby sib-pollinating, or by crossing one of the identified inbred tomatoplant with a plant of the tomato variety ‘H1418’.

DEPOSIT INFORMATION Tomato Variety ‘H1418’

A deposit of tomato variety ‘H1418’ is maintained by HeinzSeed Company,having an address at 6755 C. E. Dixon, Stockton, Calif. 95206, UnitedStates of America. Access to the deposit will be available during thependency of this application to persons determined by the Commissionerof Patents and Trademarks to be entitled thereto under 37 C.F.R. § 1.14and 35 U.S.C. § 122. Upon allowance of any claims in this application,all restrictions on the availability to the public of variety ‘H1418’will be irrevocably removed by affording access to a deposit of at least2,500 seeds of the variety with the American Type Culture Collection,(ATCC), ATCC Patent Depository, 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas,Va., 20110, USA.

At least 2,500 seeds of tomato variety ‘H1418’ were deposited on Apr.18, 2017 according to the Budapest Treaty in the American Type CultureCollection (ATCC), ATCC Patent Depository, 10801 University Boulevard,Manassas, Va., 20110, USA. The deposit has been assigned ATCC numberPTA-124121. Access to this deposit will be available during the pendencyof this application to persons determined by the Commissioner of Patentsand Trademarks to be entitled thereto under 37 C.F.R. § 1.14 and 35U.S.C. § 122. Upon allowance of any claims in this application, allrestrictions on the availability to the public of the variety will beirrevocably removed.

The deposit will be maintained in the ATCC depository, which is a publicdepository, for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the most recentrequest, or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer,and will be replaced if the deposit becomes nonviable during thatperiod.

1. Tomato seed designated as ‘H1418’, representative sample of seedhaving been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-124121.
 2. A plantproduced by growing the seed of claim
 1. 3. A plant part from the plantof claim
 2. 4. The plant part of claim 3, wherein said part is selectedfrom the group consisting of leaves, ovules, pollen, fruit, cotyledons,embryos, meristems, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers, stems,calli, stalks, hypocotyls, pericarps, and portions thereof.
 5. The plantpart of claim 3, wherein said part is a tomato fruit.
 6. A tomato planthaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of thetomato plant of claim
 2. 7. A plant part from the plant of claim
 6. 8.The plant part of claim 7, wherein said part is selected from the groupconsisting of leaves, ovules, pollen, fruit, cotyledons, embryos,meristems, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers, stems, calli,stalks, hypocotyls, and pericarps.
 9. The plant part of claim 7, whereinsaid part is a tomato fruit.
 10. Pollen of the plant of claim
 2. 11. Anovule of the plant of claim
 2. 12. A tissue culture of the plant ofclaim
 2. 13. A method of making tomato seeds comprised of crossing theplant of claim 2 with another tomato plant and harvesting seedtherefrom.
 14. A method of making tomato variety ‘H1418’, said methodcomprising selecting seeds from the cross of one ‘H1418’ plant withanother ‘H1418’ plant, a sample of ‘H1418’ tomato seed having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-124121.